On January 22, Ava Lemaire, a Grade 7 student at St. Alfred Catholic Elementary School, met Prime Minister Stephen Harper before the CHL Top Prospects game at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

Ava was one of two local students selected to be Junior Reporters for the event, which attracted scouts and general managers from across the NHL to St. Catharines to watch some of the best future pro players in a game. As a Junior Reporter, Ava participated in a number of events during the week, and had the opportunity to interview several of the players, as well as the coaches for each team, Don Cherry and Bobby Orr.

Following her meeting with the Prime Minister, Ava described the opportunity as “intense.” Thanks to The Standard for this great story about Ava’s experience. Kudos, too, to Madison Mikolic, a student at Denis Morris Catholic High School, who performed an incredible rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at the start of the game. We will add photos and video from her family as they become available.

Getting ready to tour the Sportsnet mobile truck before the game.

Ava speaks with SportsNet hosts prior to the game.

Getting used to wearing the headset.

Ava was Team Orr all the way – and backed a winner.

Ava on the JumboTron during first intermission, interviewing Jeremy Roy.

On the air with 610 CKTB’s Ted Lehman during the CHL Prospects Game. Ava provided some play-by-play during the second period.

Ava wasn’t the only Niagara Catholic student to participate in the game. Madison Mikolic, a student at Denis Morris Catholic High School, sang the Star Spangled Banner at the start of the game.

Cole McMann, an ELKP student at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School, had a pretty famous seat-mate at the game.

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